Flying Scot 50th Anniversary Tribute, Tampa Fleet 168

July 14, 2007

Disclaimer: I have cut and pasted the report from Andy, our Fleet Captain with a few edits by (it's my blog) me.

Andy and Rod aboard "38 Special" sporting a nice new bottom

Our fleet race on Saturday was one to remember. The story line includes man and machine versus the elements, drama on the high seas, damsels in distress..... Weird thing was some attendees missed all or some of the action.

First, the players, (by hull#). Andy Hayward and Rocket Rod Koch #38. Dave and Kim Thinel #812, (you have to see the beautiful new bottom job on Pig Pen by the way). Diamond Doug King and his TWO girlfriends (sorry I did not get the ladies names), #2069. Bill Adikes and Joy #3998. Dave Bell and Susan Cintron #4156. Mike Douglas and Terry #4305. Brian and Kat Malone #4318. Mark Taylor and a variable amount of kids #4321. Paul Silvernail and Leslie Fisher #5026. For a total of nine Flying Scots.

I think most of us were surprised to see white capping conditions when we arrived at the club, (after all its July). There was a fair amount of thunderstorm activity in the area as we launched boats and prepared to shove off. It was the general consensus that the main cell to the West of DIYC (over South Tampa and Bayshore) was sweeping to the North East and would miss us. Mike Douglas and Mark Taylor were the first to leave, followed by Brian and Kat and Andy and Rod a bit later. The teams were greeted by about 15k of breeze and heaped up waves immediately after clearing "A" dock. The storm cell was sucking the breeze in hard and the Southerly direction made for some messy wave action. Brian and Kat took mercy on their borrowed rocket ship and wisely headed back to wait out the cell. Mark, Mike and Andy smashed some waves and actually found that the further South you went the more the weather moderated. The cell passed pretty much as thought, it did not even rain at the club. Andy and Rod began to wonder where the rest of the fleet was and sailed back into the harbor, preparing to yell "Chickens"! Upon turning the corner by "A" dock it became clear, the rest of the fleet was attending to the capsized #5026, in the basin. Dave Bell, Dave Thinel and Diamond Doug had the DIYC launch and were attempting to extricate Paul and Leslie's sloops mast from taking a core sample of the mud at the bottom of the harbor.

The rescue of 5026 in progess, this is how a Scot will sit with no bow bag, one crew, when fully swamped

Andy couldn't resist jumping in to assist and with some pulling to windward from the launch and un-housing of the centerboard, popped her upright. Other than some very stinky, muddy sails she was no worse for wear. (Leslie will sell to anyone one slightly used Windex, Cheap! )The fleet members swarmed the stricken yacht and had her bailed out and rinsed off, in no time.

Almost back to the dock where we will use the hoist to drain her out.


Mike and Mark thought that we all had flaked out and actually had a match race while all of this was transpiring.

The fleet got back on track and headed out, the wind stayed pretty strong from the South/Southwest all afternoon. The second race saw Mike Douglas jump out to a early lead followed by Dave Bell at the windward mark. Andy and Rod got ole #38 cranking and passed a boat on each of the subsequent legs to snag the win.

Mike with Terry crewing, shows some nice form and speed

Shortly after the finish it was noticed that Doug King's Mandy Rose (2069)was on her side about a quarter mile South of the starting line. When #2069 righted two of Doug's crew were in the water away from the boat. Doug's outhaul had parted which made moving to windward impossible. Andy and Rod scooped up the ladies, and Rod used the " what are nice girls like you doing in place like this" line, that Rod, he's smoooth! It was too rough to attempt a boat to boat transfer so the girls were deposited on DIYC's beach and #38 missed race three's start.

It proved to be a super close race with Mike, Dave T and Dave B all finishing overlapped in that order! It should be noted that Mark Taylor single handed Blast Off in this race and really pressed the leaders, awesome!

More speed from Mike and Terry to take the finish

Race four saw #38 win the boat in a righty biased race and never look back, Mark had added his ace super crew Stu and was back in the mix for a 2nd, followed by the fresh and clean #5026. Tom Taylor, race committee extraordinare, called it a day, and the wind/sunburned group headed for the docks. Thanks again to Mr Taylor for his top notch efforts!

The weary bunch gathered poolside to relive the drama, unfortunately Andy had to scat early due to work, total bummer!

Lessons learned; 5026, never leave the mainsheet unattended in the cleat, even to only put on gloves. Skipper or crew has to always have it in hand on a gusty day. 2069, jury rigging a new outhaul in 15 or 16 knots of wind and steep waves with the main still up is a real battle. Partially dropping the main to complete the temporary repair and rehoisting would prove easier.

If the oppurtunity arises you must ask Doug King for his "blow by blow" version of the events, hopefully with cocktails in hand.

Kudos to Leslie and Paul for jumping right back into it as soon as their boat was straightened out. This was only their second time out with the boat after purchasing it several weeks ago. Awesome.